This weekend’s inaugural West End Winter Fair had the right ingredients to draw large crowds — warm sunlight, mid-40s temperatures, fireworks, lantern release, array of activities, two local bands, numerous vendors and opportunity to make s’mores.

“I’m just enjoying the outdoors and the music,” said Catherine Stephens as she helped guests down from the horse-drawn wagon.

On Sunday, the Cramer Brothers Band played nearby as her father, Scott Stephens, and his horses Cleo and Mada took guests all around the fairgrounds.

“We have been busier than we thought,” said Catherine Stephens.

Scott Stephens said he had hauled as many people as he could on each 15-minute wagon ride on Saturday. Upon return from a ride, the horses had a short break while one group got out, and the next group went aboard.

Sunday was becoming just as busy, he said.

Guests could also take a tractor-drawn wagon ride given by Homer Borger.

The wagon, a rental from Klingel’s Farm in Saylorsburg, also took guests all around the fairgrounds. These areas were vacant this weekend, but are always full of vendors, exhibits and crowds during the summer fair.

“We went in the bounce house, took a tractor ride and have had so much fun,” said 10-year-old Hailey Marsh while roasting marshmallows Saturday evening.

Thirty to 40 vendors sold various products and services.

“I make decorative jars, sock monkeys and jewelry as a hobby. It was a pretty good sale day,” said Betty Sciandra, owner of Tye-Dyes & More by Betty.

The crowd came hungry, craving the array of food offered by the West End Winter Fair committee.

The kitchen committee said they had an outstanding Saturday and sales exceeded expectations.

Blue Ridge Winery sold wine by the glass and by the bottle. Pocono Brewery Company sold craft beer.

Guests could warm up at the fire barrels all around the festival.

“I love this winter fair. It is fabulous. I had to no clue what it would be like,” said Mary DeRohn while her granddaughter, 11-year-old Samantha DeRohn, colored a picture inside the exhibits building.

Shooting Star Fireworks of the Lehigh Valley provided a fireworks display as soon as it was dark on Saturday, followed by families participating in a lantern release.

In November, a committee of about 20 people started to plan and prepare for the inaugural event.

“We did a heck of a lot better than we ever anticipated. Our actual Saturday crowd size was what we originally thought the turnout for the whole weekend would be,” said Dale “Peanut” Greenzweig Jr., co-chair of the West End Winter Fair committee, on Sunday evening.

Greenzweig would like to thank the fair board, winter fair volunteers, community and all the vendors for their support during this inaugural event.

“People came out, enjoyed the fire pits, beer, wine, bands and all the activities. It was a gorgeous weekend,” he said.